Overview
- TrendForce now expects smartphone and laptop makers to raise prices and ship lower RAM configurations in 2026, with mid‑range phones dropping to 6–8GB, budget phones to 4GB, and many laptops sticking to 16GB high‑end and 8GB mid‑tier.
- Framework says it will increase its memory pricing soon but pledged not to gouge customers, after recently halting standalone RAM sales to deter scalpers.
- Dell, Lenovo, HP, and custom PC builders are bracing for higher system prices, with Dell’s COO saying the company’s focus is to "get supply" and Lenovo reportedly buffered by inventory for now.
- Scalping is inflating costs further, with recent eBay sales including 256GB DDR5 kits fetching over $2,300 and mainstream kits selling for multiples of prior retail prices.
- Suppliers are prioritizing higher‑margin HBM and server DRAM, with Micron winding down Crucial’s consumer retail business; Counterpoint forecasts another 30% memory price rise in late 2025 and 20% more early next year, and some analysts see tightness lasting into 2028.